Deaths from leptospirosis reach 38: health department

July 2, 2018

Deaths from cases of leptospirosis, a bacterial infection spread through urine of infected animals, especially rats, in  floodwaters have reached 38 this year due to weeks of rains, the health department said on Monday.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said there are 234 cases of leptospirosis in Metro Manila from the period of January 1 to July 1, 60 percent higher than the same period last year..

“The fact that there are deaths is a cause for alarm,” said Duque.

Majority of the cases in Metro Manila, said Duque, are in Quezon City (87 cases), Manila (25), Taguig City (20), Parañaque City (18), Caloocan City (18), Las Piñas City (10), and Pasig City (10).

Duque attributed the clustering in leptospirosis cases to the recent heavy rains and floods.

“Recently, we had uninterrupted weeks of continuous heavy downpour and floodings in the metropolis. So that is the number one attribution,” said Duque.

Duque said the figure is likely to rise. “There are still flooding so the figures are still likely to jump when our Epidemiology Bureau provides us the updates,” said Duque.

Symptoms of leptospirosis include high fever, muscle pain, eye redness, chills, severe headache, vomiting, diarrhea, or yellowish skin discoloration. DMS